Thermographic findings in a case of type 2 diabetes with foot ulcer and osteomyelitis

Using thermography, skin temperature was evaluated in a 76-year-old patient with type II diabetes mellitus, presenting with diabetic foot ulceration on the right hallux and a corn on the left fourth toe. Increased skin temperature was observed in both the right hallux and the left fourth toe, though...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of wound care Vol. 21; no. 6; p. 274, 276
Main Authors Oe, M, Yotsu, R R, Sanada, H, Nagase, T, Tamaki, T
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.06.2012
Subjects
Aged
Comorbidity
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology
Diabetic Foot - diagnosis
Diabetic Foot - physiopathology
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Osteomyelitis - diagnosis
Osteomyelitis - etiology
Osteomyelitis - physiopathology
Skin Temperature
Thermography
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Summary:Using thermography, skin temperature was evaluated in a 76-year-old patient with type II diabetes mellitus, presenting with diabetic foot ulceration on the right hallux and a corn on the left fourth toe. Increased skin temperature was observed in both the right hallux and the left fourth toe, though there were no visible clinical signs of infection. Unexpectedly, the high temperature area was seen to extend from the left fourth toe to the ankle. The patient was later diagnosed with osteomyelitis, due to the presence of a high-intensity area on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, suggesting the elevated skin temperature was due to osteomyelitis. Based on these observations, thermography could prove useful for screening for foot ulcers with osteomyelitis.
ISSN:0969-0700
2052-2916
DOI:10.12968/jowc.2012.21.6.274